Telecommuting is a popular buzz word for a growing work style. It is not necessarily the same thing as owning and operating a home-based business, but increasingly, individuals are considering telecommuting instead of the “traditional” job. We’ve talked here on the Home Business blog before about the differences between an authentic home-based business and telecommuting, but many of us might be considering doing a little of both–or wonder if telecommuting wouldn’t be a better way for us to go than taking the risk and plunge into entrepreneurialism.
With a telecommuting job, you really are working for someone else. There is an “employer” out there somewhere and you may even be expected to make an appearance at the office once or twice a month or week. This is different than when you are an independent contractor or consultant, working for a client where you might attend a meeting or two or work on site occasionally. With telecommuting, you have many of the same perks (insurance, benefits, etc.) as a traditional job, as well as many of the same expectations–but you get to work at home at least some of the time.
For many, this is a preferable arrangement to starting a home-based business. You don’t have the risk or the insecurity of a new business–you’ll still get a regular pay check and have a boss and even a “department” of coworkers with whom you work. You won’t have to file the same taxes or licenses as a home-based business. The down side is that you do still have a boss and you won’t have the same opportunities for growth and ownership as you would with your own business.
On my own path to having my own home-business, I transitioned by doing some telecommuting. It helped me to get a feel for working from home and set up a system and get used to working independently. Once I’d built up my confidence, I was ready to take the leap to being even more independent and learn how to do the bookkeeping, taxes, etc. that a small business requires. For me, telecommuting was one step on the road to independence, but for others, it might be just the right balance of autonomy and flexibility, and security.